Flakes from multilayer iridescent films for use in paints and coatings

Abstract

Comminuted particles of iridescent laminate film are prepared by supporting the film on a strippable substrate prior to the processing of the film into particulate form.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A process for producing iridescent laminate films suitable for comminution comprising providing a transparent thermoplastic laminate film of at least 10 coextruded very thin layers of substantially uniform thickness, said layers being generally parallel, the contiguous adjacent layers being of different transparent thermoplastic resinous materials whose index of refraction differs by at least about 0.03 and releasably bonded said film to a supporting substrate; delaminating said supporting substrate and said laminate film; and comminuting said laminate film into a plurality of particles whose largest edge dimension is less than about 4 mils and whose thickness is less than about 1 mil. 
     
     
       2. The process of  claim 1 , wherein said supporting substrate is a polyolefin. 
     
     
       3. The process of  claim 1 , wherein said supported laminate film is cut to a width of not greater than about 5.5 inches prior to said separating step. 
     
     
       4. The process of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said resinous materials is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, polymethyl, methacrylate, polybutylene terephthalate, glycol modified polyethylene terephthalate, and polystyrene, and wherein the contiguous adjacent layers of different transparent thermoplastic resinous materials have an index of refraction which differs by at least about 0.06. 
     
     
       5. The process of  claim 1 , wherein one of said resinous materials is polymethyl methacrylate and the other resinous material is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, and polystyrene.